[Appraisal dimensions of emotions: an empirical integration of the previous findings]

Appraisal theories of emotions assume that the emotions are elicited by the appraisals of events or circumstances along with the several dimensions. However, there are some inconsistencies among the dimensions proposed by various appraisal theories. The purpose of this study was to integrate the appraisal dimensions that were proposed by Scherer, Roseman, and Smith & Ellsworth's theories by empirically investigating the appraisals associated with each emotion. Three hundred seventy-six Japanese participants recalled a past experience associated with one of 13 emotions, and rated the nature of the emotional event along the appraisal dimensions proposed by them. A factor analysis identified eight factors: pleasantness, self/other control, certainty, anticipated effort and attention, novelty, human/situation control, motivational state, and coping potentials. These dimensions were consistently proposed by the appraisal theorists. Moreover the associations between each emotion and its appraisal profiles were mostly consistent with the previous theories except for a few dimensions. Discussion argued that the appraisal dimensions identified in this study adequately capture the important features of major emotions.